Streat Helsinki EATS 22 March 2014: Street Food Fair of the Century in Helsinki

Helsinki's new street food feast is served 21–22 March 2014. The most visible part of the set of events is Streat Helsinki EATS, taking over the Tori Quarters in the centre of Helsinki. Food trucks, vans and carts and stands are open from 11am to 7 pm on Saturday 22 March 2014.

"The old cobblestoned streets will be trembling and the electricity outlets vibrating when the trucks start rolling in. The magnificent food carnival includes flipping burgers outside the City Hall, and enjoying sandwiches by the Havis Amanda Fountain", Peggy Bauer, Operative Director of the Tori Quarters, exclaims.

Thirty Street Kitchens Lead the Way for New Food Cities

The Streat Helsinki EATS festival brings together street food pioneers to a compact area to cook up tasty treats on-spot for an eager audience. The festival area is open for all and free of charge. The day is expected to draw 10 000 visitors.

Participants were found through an open call. The majority of vendors has now been announced, but some potential additions and surprises remain to be revealed.

Overseas visitors from Stockholm include Curbside Sthlm, Fred's Food Truck, Bon Coin Food Truck and Boardwalk Street Food. Tallinn's addition is restaurant Salt's street food team. Treats from these Baltic Sea neighbours range from pulled pork to quesadillas, and chipotle to French kitchen. Chef Petteri Luoto makes a come back from New York to Helsinki with his signature Japanese coal BBQ, and a set of spices from Shanghai to Nashville. A Streat Helsinki TALKS speaker, food truck pioneer of Cape Town and idol of street foodies, Luca Castiglione, will also be cooking at the festival.

Finnish street food heroes include the Mexican style Cholo, ambassadors of British street food Fisu & Ranet, Soul Mama's Kitchen led by Ninja Sarasalo, and experimental street food pioneer EWÄS. BBQ on Wheels will also be rolling into the venue, as will vegetarian delight SoiSoi. Saku Salo has promised to drive his yellow school bus 300 km all the way from Seinäjoki, and Tarmo Wasenius brings delicacies from Joensuu on the eastern border.

Some of the Tori Quarters restaurants will also try their skills in street food. The brewery-restaurant Bryggeri Helsinki's courtyard will play host to a cozy festival centre, where visitors can also quench their thirst.

"We invite everyone to experience what street food is all about in 2014. We also want to help the cities and the citizens to see what street food is at its best, and how to make the best decisions to support this scene", Peggy Bauer lists.